August 2013 PDF - The Institute for Creation Research

ACTS&FACTS
VOL. 42 NO. 8
Creation
and
College
INSTITUTE FOR
CREATION RESEARCH
www.icr.org
AUGUST 2013
NEW!
Now in Kindle
and NOOK too!
“This is the one book you need to teach creation.
When people hear the earth is billions of years old...
what do you say? Guide to Creation Basics has the answers!”
G
uide to Creation Basics is a comprehensive 120-page guide—authored by ICR scientists
and scholars—loaded with hundreds of full-color illustrations.
• Build your child’s confidence in biblical creation!
• Cutting-edge scientific information and full-color illustrations
• Homeschoolers have trusted ICR resources for over 40 years
“ICR’s Guide to Creation Basics is elegantly produced and powerfully presented. The
favorite dogmas of evolutionary theory are boldly examined and dismantled with clear
logic and simple facts—starting with the obvious truth that God’s handiwork is clearly
visible everywhere. Whether we look through a telescope, a microscope, or with our
own unaided eyes, what we see is a universe filled with the incontrovertible evidence
of God’s ingenious design, His magnificent glory, and His vast power. This book sets
forth a generous sampling of that evidence, making a vivid and compelling case for
the biblical account of creation. This is an invaluable resource for students, teachers, or
anyone confused by authoritative-sounding skeptics.”
— John MacArthur
Print version: $16.99
plus shipping & handling
Kindle and NOOK versions: $9.99
To order, call 800.628.7640 or visit www.icr.org/store
CONTENTS
VOLUME 42 NUMBER 8
AUGUST 2013
Published by
Institute for Creation Research
5
P. O. Box 59029
Dallas, TX 75229
FEATURE
214.615.8300
5 Creation and College
www.icr.org
H e n r y M . M o r r i s III , D . M i n .
Executive Editor
Jayme Durant
RESEARCH
9 Ancient Water Claims Have Leaks
SENIOR Editor
Beth Mull
EditorS
10
Christine Dao
T i m o th y C l a r e y , P h . D .
IMPACT
10 The Solar System: Mercury
Michael Stamp
Jason Lisle, Ph.D.
Designer
BACK TO GENESIS
Dennis Davidson
No articles may be reprinted in whole or in
part without obtaining permission from ICR.
13
13 The Upside-Down Mountain
John D. Morris, Ph.D.
14 How Does a Dog Smell Fossils?
Copyright © 2013
Institute for Creation Research
Brian Thomas, M.S.
15 Hot Mantle Initiated Ocean and Flood Beginnings
18
T i m o th y C l a r e y , P h . D .
16 Dinosaurs, Stars, and Special Creation at Gateway Church
M i ch a e l H a n s e n
APOLOGETICS
18 Is Biblical Creation a Distraction to Evangelism?
20
James J. S. Johnson, J.D., Th.D.
CREATION Q & A
20 Could We Clone a Dinosaur?
Brian Thomas, M.S.
STEWARDSHIP
21 Letters from Abroad
Henry M. Morris IV
AUGUST 2013
|
ACTS
&
FACTS
3
FROM THE EDITOR
Turning Classroom Opposition into Opportunity
“Let your speech always be with grace…that you may know how you ought to answer.”
(Colossians 4:6)
O
ne of my daughter’s required courses in college was
tures. Even though she was well aware of his hostility to Christianity,
philosophy. Early in the semester, the professor opened
she participated respectfully and confidently in the class discussions
the class by reading some Bible verses and then asking
with the professor calling on her frequently. At one point, he even let
the students to raise their hands if they believed what
her read all of Romans 7-8 aloud during class, verse by verse. Students
he just read. My daughter was one of a very few with an upraised hand.
often approached her after class with questions about what she be-
She happened to be sitting in the first row that morning.
lieved, saying they appreciated her questions and statements in class
The professor looked at her and said, “Well you want to know
and that she obviously had confidence in her beliefs.
what I think about that?” He took a few quick steps, slammed his hands
As a parent of four kids who have attended college and have en-
on her desk, and leaned in a few inches from her face. His face was red
countered their share of challenges to their faith, I appreciate the words
and spit flew as he yelled, “I think that’s a mean-spirited God, and any-
of wisdom Dr. Henry Morris III offers in his feature article, “Creation
one who believes that must be a mean-spirited person!”
and College” (pages 5-7). He says, “The most productive process for
maintaining a solid Christian witness and an open confession of biblical truth in an educational setting is often to simply ask questions.” His
classroom guidelines will help any student facing a hostile academic
environment.
If you have students in your life—or you are a student—other
ICR resources can help you prepare for the classroom. Pick up copies
of Guide to Creation Basics, The Global Flood, Clearly Seen, and The
Book of Beginnings to build confidence in what you believe. Dr. Jason
Lisle’s books The Ultimate Proof of Creation and Discerning Truth will
further equip you with tools to respond to opposition in the classroom
(visit www.icr.org).
As my daughter neared the end of her undergraduate degree
program, she began preparing her graduate school applications. She
approached a number of professors for letters of recommendations.
I watched her lay out the paperwork for several different graduate
schools in neat stacks across our dining room table, and at the top of
My daughter heard audible gasps throughout the classroom as
she sat, composed and calm, but saying nothing in return. Afterwards,
other students came up to her in the hallway, telling her they couldn’t
believe the teacher had acted that way and that they admired the way
each stack was a glowing recommendation from her former philosophy professor. It doesn’t always turn out that way, but in this one case,
she discovered that asking questions respectfully unlocked doors of opportunities.
she handled it.
As the semester progressed, my daughter found her professor
more approachable when she asked genuine questions about his lec-
4
ACTS
&
FACTS
|
AUGUST 2013
Jayme Durant
Executive Editor
Creation
and
College
H e n r y
M .
M o r r is
I I I ,
D . M
i n
.
M
any Acts & Facts readers have been involved with
decisions about college choices for their children or
grandchildren. Parents often ask our speakers what
colleges they should send their children to—especially if they are considering careers in science.
These decisions bring up a number of issues parents must face,
and the answers are not always simple to discern. Perhaps an overview of these challenges will help those who are now involved in their
educational decision processes.
Biblical Guidelines
Although the Bible does not provide a specific test for prospective educational institutions, there are several broad applicable guidelines for any decision that would expose our minds to information.
❦“I do not pray that You
should take them out of the
world, but that You should keep
them from the evil one.” (John 17:15)
❦“Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty de-
ceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” (Colossians 2:8)
❦“Do not love the world or the things in the world....For all that is in
the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride
of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.” (1 John 2:15-16)
Many more passages could be cited, but these address the basic
parameters that God has left for our safety net. First, we are not to
consider ourselves “out of the world” but to be “kept” by God’s grace
AUGUST 2013
|
ACTS
&
FACTS
5
and His Word from that which is evil. We are not to be isolated from
the world as much as we are to be insulated from it. Second, we are
warned to be alert to the real possibility of being robbed by the “love of
common wisdom” and the “empty deception” that the tradition and
“logical structures” of the world would bring. Another warning is that
we must deflect the antithesis of “false knowledge” (1 Timothy 6:20).
Ultimately, we are not to love the threefold dangers of the world’s enticements—fleshly passion, ungodly potential, or personal pride.
No matter where we go or how sheltered we might try to be, we
cannot escape the matrix of corruption and the ungodly surroundings of sin. Our protection lies in a conscious decision to “seek first
the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). Please
remember that the battle is not only spiritual but an intellectual one
as well: “As the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds
may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3).
There will always be tension felt between the desire for righteous environments and the prerequisite for
the skills necessary to function in
the world until Christ returns.
Practical Guidelines
Assuming that we are making a conscious effort to comply with
biblical guidelines for our lives, we are all instructed to “do business”
until the Lord returns (Luke 19:13). Some of God’s twice-born are
specifically called into a ministry field, but many more are called into
professions that require other specialized training—thus, the need
for further education. There will always be tension felt between the
desire for righteous environments and the prerequisite for the skills
necessary to function in the world until Christ returns.
As our culture drifts away from its Christian foundation, the
need grows greater for more godly men and women in technical and
intellectual fields—scientists, engineers, doctors, lawyers, professors,
business entrepreneurs, and, yes, for politicians, artists, musicians,
English teachers, coaches and film makers! Here are some practical
suggestions:
❦Be sure of your “calling”—but remain flexible. A genuine calling
to a “full-time” ministry is surely significant, but some seek employment among churches merely to avoid the pressures of secular
careers. God’s call to “do business” is just as spiritually fulfilling and
biblically sanctioned as calling a pastor to a church. Charles Spurgeon is said to have given this thought-provoking advice: “If you
can do anything else, do it. If you can stay out of the ministry, stay
out of the ministry.” Often, the Lord will lead a person through
6
ACTS
&
FACTS
|
AUGUST 2013
stages of education and experience for a hidden purpose only realized later in life. Consider the lives of the patriarchs and the long,
difficult educational trials many of them endured.
❦Get the best education that your station in life affords. While not
many of us can get accepted into a Harvard or Stanford or West
Point, if such an opportunity is granted, take advantage of the
open door that the Lord has placed before you. The more widely
recognized your education is, the more available opportunities for
witness and ministry will become. Some Christian schools provide
an excellent education for a liberal arts degree, but few provide
training for technical careers. Advanced degrees are crucially important for those who seek leadership positions, and you may very
well be led to a secular graduate school.
❦Ensure a constant circle of godly Christian friends. This would ap-
ply even if you are going to a Christian college—maybe even more
so. “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and
good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as
is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much
the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25).
This requires a solid, Bible-preaching church as well as a Christian
campus group. They exist in every college town—make the effort
to seek them out.
Life training is a lifelong experience. Many have made the mistake of assuming that a particular degree or job is the end of educational responsibility. God’s Kingdom requires a much longer view.
College or professional training is more than likely just the beginning—but it is a very important beginning. Whether one seeks a
ministry career or a secular job, both should be seen as the calling
God Himself has commissioned. Preparation for work in the Kingdom is tantamount to honoring the Lord as you “work out your own
salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you
both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12-13).
All of the above advice could be summarized by this perspective: “Do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things
which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but
the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18). Not
many of God’s adopted children are “mighty” or “noble.” Most of
us are ordinary folks whom God has called into His Kingdom with
the overall commission to be “an epistle of Christ” in the “midst of a
crooked and perverse generation” (1 Corinthians 1:26; 2 Corinthians
3:3; Philippians 2:15-16).
Classroom Guidelines
Truth is affirmed by facts. Truth is most clearly understood in
terms of “what” and “how.” These questions are generally the domain
of science. “Who,” “when,” and “where” are generally the domain of
history, and history is sometimes less certain because it depends on
The most productive process for
maintaining a solid Christian witness and an open confession of biblical truth in an educational setting
is often to simply ask questions!
the written records of those who were present at the time the events
were taking place. “Why” is largely the domain of philosophy and is
the least certain of all disciplines. The further away from “what” and
“how” a subject gets, the more dependent it becomes on the philosophy of the one doing the teaching. Whenever the “what” or “how” is
mixed with the “why,” the danger of error is present.
Many young adults have been emotionally injured by attempting to correct a secular professor. Usually the motivation is good—
the student wants to help his classmates or the prof see the truth in
the face of some blatantly anti-Christian or arrogant sweep of philosophical blather. However well-meaning or well-versed a student
may be, the classroom is often the worst place to share truth because
the setting is designed to give all the power and intellectual edge to
the teacher.
The most productive process for maintaining a solid Christian
witness and an open confession of biblical truth in an educational
setting is often to simply ask questions. Most educators welcome
open discussion, and here are some basic classroom guidelines:
The objective in this process is twofold: to elicit additional information from the instructor and to allow the class (and perhaps
the teacher) to see the level of support for the information you are
introducing into the discussion. Remember, the closer the class discussion is to the factual “what” and “how,” the less likely philosophy
(or theology or worldview) is to be a part of the discussion—and
the more the student is expected (and needs) to be involved in learning the content. The more “why” is involved, the more the student is
at liberty to question—and to sort through the answers for genuine
factual information.
Finally, consider this thought: Take the Kingdom view. Preparing for your servant role in the Kingdom is a long process. The job of
a student is to learn and to become proficient in a
skill that will empower him or her to “do business”
until the Lord returns (Luke 19:13).
Dr. Morris is Chief Executive Officer of the Institute for Creation
Research.
❦Respect the teaching profession. It is the students’ role to seek
knowledge. And the teacher’s responsibility is to provide instruction. Teaching the teacher—or confronting the teacher—reverses
that role and usually ends in disaster. Asking the right questions
will earn the respect of your classmates and will often expose error.
❦Be polite, courteous, and factual. Sarcasm or disdain will seldom
yield good results. Professional courtesy is always appreciated. Use
proper titles when addressing teachers (Dr., Mr., Professor, etc.)
and respond with “sir” or “ma’am” and “thank you” when you
are addressed. Keep your questions focused on the facts, not your
opinions. Learn when to stop.
❦Use the student’s right to know when you ask questions: “Please
help me understand....” “Please tell me if I understood you correctly. Did you mean to say...?” “Am I correct to understand that...?”
“Would you help me understand why you believe that to be so?”
“May I ask for the background evidence on that?” “Please tell me
the basic reasoning behind that statement.”
❦The most powerful phrases are “please help me” and “please tell
me.” Questions that can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no” are
weaker, although they may soften the approach. Questions that require responses are more likely to generate additional information.
AUGUST 2013
|
ACTS
&
FACTS
7
EVENTS
I C R
A U G U S T
E V ENT S
nAugust 1-3
The Woodlands, TX
THSC Southwest Convention Family Conference
806.744.4441
nAugust 17
Waipahu, HI
Calvary Chapel Pearl Harbor
(R. Guliuzza) 808.678.3994
nAugust 18-20
Honolulu, HI
First Assembly of God
(R. Guliuzza, J. Lisle) 808.836.2300
nAugust 7
Fort Worth, TX
Glenview Baptist Church
(C. Morse) 817.281.3361
nAugust 17-19
Orange City, FL
Volusia County Baptist Church
(F. Sherwin) 386.774.0181
nAugust 21
Ewa Beach, HI
Calvary Chapel West Oahu
(R. Guliuzza) 808.689.6297
nAugust 14
Fort Worth, TX
Glenview Baptist Church
(N. Jeanson) 817.281.3361
nAugust 18
Waipahu, HI
Calvary Chapel Pearl Harbor
(R. Guliuzza, J. Lisle) 808.678.3994
nAugust 25
Kapaa, HI
Calvary Chapel Kauai
(J. Lisle) 808.821.2228
nAugust 16-17
Wilsonville, OR
YOM Conference with Jon Micah Sumrall of Kutless
(N. Jeanson, J. Lisle) 971.327.2120
nAugust 18
Ewa Beach, HI
Calvary Chapel West Oahu
(J. Lisle) 808.689.6297
n
For more information on these events or to schedule an event, please contact the ICR Event Department at
800.337.0375 or visit www.icr.org/events or email us at [email protected]
8
ACTS
&
FACTS
|
AUGUST 2013
RESEARCH
W
“
T I M O T H Y
hen the well is dry, we know the worth of water.”
This quote from Benjamin Franklin is all too true,
especially in drought-stricken areas. Wells are
supplied by groundwater that exists virtually everywhere below Earth’s surface. In some places like wetlands, groundwater nearly reaches the surface. In other locations, it may be hundreds
of feet down and reachable only by drilling a well. Groundwater runs
deep—continuing downward for as far as mankind has ever drilled, at
depths greater than 30,000 feet—nearly
six miles. But the water is always there
and always slowly flowing through the
sediments and rock layers of Earth at an
average rate of 50 feet per year.
A recent report published in Nature
by a team of English and Canadian scientists claims to have discovered groundwater supposedly
over one billion years old in a deep mine in Canada.1 The
scientists sampled water from fractured crystalline rocks
from the Timmins Mine 1.5 miles below the surface. The
Timmins Mine is located in Ontario, Canada, within
what’s called the Precambrian Shield, and it produces
copper and zinc from an ancient volcanic complex.
The study authors claim to have found this
“trapped” water in free-flowing fractures, discharging from exploration boreholes at the bottom
of the mine. At the same time, they measured
groundwater flow rates through these fractures that were greater than a half-gallon per
minute, making it extremely hard to support the claim that the water was truly
“trapped.” Yet, based on trace amounts
of neon and xenon gases dissolved in
the water, and the specific isotopes
they found, the researchers calculated
that the water was isolated below the surface for at least one
billion years. The scientists never considered other sources
for the unusual noble gases found in the mine water. Instead, they used evolutionary assumptions and models of
Earth’s supposed ancient atmospheric composition to
back their assertions.
Other authors have made claims of trapped ancient water systems within fluid inclusions, or water surrounded by mineral crystals.2 There are even pockets of Ice Age water, a mere few thousand
years old, trapped in low-permeable clays in Michigan that have become partially mixed with modern water.3 But even the authors of
the present study were surprised by their “extraordinary” discovery
of trapped, billion-year-old water flowing freely from fractures in
the mine.1
Contrary to the claims made by these scientists, trapping water
in fractured rocks is impossible. One of the major problems with the
C L A R E Y ,
P
h
. D .
disposal of nuclear waste is finding a rock medium that can contain
the spent fuel. Millions of dollars have been exhausted studying nuclear waste disposal in volcanic or igneous rock systems. Unfortunately,
all of the proposed sites have shown evidence of continual groundwater flow through the rocks. These studies have demonstrated that
fractured rocks even at great depths—more than one mile—commonly have high groundwater flow rates.4 Because of these reports,
groundwater flow in fractured rock is usually approximated as a porous medium, similar to sandstone, and
follows general groundwater flow
equations such as Darcy’s Law.4
Finally, these nature scientists never
considered the almost unlimited interactions
that take place at depth between the mobile
water and the fractured rock surfaces that may
be capable of trapping or dissolving unusual noble gases.
Physical reactions between the water and the rocks, like adsorption and diffusion, and chemical reactions, like ion exchange
and precipitation, continually alter the dissolved composition of all
groundwater systems regardless of depth.4 One possible solution to
the mysterious presence of these noble gases was recently published in a subsequent paper in Nature Geoscience.5 This group
of scientists found that noble gases like neon and argon, can
become trapped within common crystal
igneous minerals found in the crust, just
like the findings at the Timmins Mine.
Groundwater flowing through the
fractured rock and contacting these
minerals could then release the gases
and, consequently, explain their unusual
occurrence in the mine.
Belief in an evolutionary origin for
Earth, its atmosphere, and its ancient age
has led many scientists astray from God’s truth. This paper is
another example of outlandish claims based on evolutionary
assumptions—it ignores continual groundwater flow. Water
is always moving through the ground, which actively alters
the water chemistry. As scientists and engineers search for
places to dispose of nuclear waste, they are finding that
everything leaks.
Ancient Water
Claims Have
Leaks
References
1. Holland, G., et al. 2013. Deep fracture fluids isolated in the crust since the Precambrian era.
Nature. 497 (7449): 357-360.
2. Lippmann-Pipke, J., et al. 2011. Neon identifies two billion year old fluid component in
Kaapvaal Craton. Chemical Geology. 283 (3-4): 287-296.
3. Clarey, T. L., et al. 1999. Isotopic and geochemical evidence for mixing of Late Pleistocene and
Holocene-age waters within a regional confined aquifer, Bay County, Michigan. 33rd Annual
North-Central Section Meeting. Geological Society of America. Abstracts with Programs, p. A-9.
4. Neretnieks, I. 1993, Solute transport in fractured rock-applications to
radionuclide waste repositories. In: Flow and Contaminant Transport
in Fractured Rock. Bear, J. Tsang, C.-F., and de Marsily, G., eds, London,
Academic Press, Inc., 39-127.
5. Jackson, C. R. M., et al. 2013. Noble gas transport into the mantle facilitated by high solubility in amphibole. Nature Geoscience. Posted on
nature.com June 16, 2013, accessed June 17, 2013.
Dr. Clarey is Research Associate at the Institute for Creation Research
and received his Ph.D. from the University of Western Michigan.
AUGUST 2013
|
ACTS
&
FACTS
9
I M PA C T
J aso n
L isle ,
P
h
. D .
The Solar System:
Mercury
T
he smallest planet of our solar
system holds some big mysteries for secular astronomers,
and it continues to delight
creationists. Mercury is only
38 percent the diameter of Earth, making it
the smallest and least massive of the eight
planets. It is the innermost planet of the solar
system, orbiting the sun at a distance of only
10
ACTS
&
FACTS
|
AUGUST 2013
36 million miles. That is nearly three times
closer to the sun than Earth is. Mercury is a
solid, rocky world, with only a trace of an atmosphere. It has mountains, valleys, plains,
and craters—lots and lots of craters! In appearance, Mercury resembles a 40 percent
larger (in radius) version of the moon. But
when it comes to creation research of the
early solar system, Mercury provides many
interesting clues. The unusual characteristics
of this world make for an intriguing study.
A World of Extremes
Since it is closest to the sun, Mercury
has the shortest “year” of any planet, taking
only 88 Earth days to complete one orbit. So
every time Earth completes one orbit, Mer-
cury has already made four trips around the
sun. On the other hand, it has the longest
solar day of any planet. A hypothetical observer on Mercury’s surface would only see
a sunrise every 176 Earth days!
The “sidereal” (relative to the stars) rotation rate of Mercury is 59 Earth days. If we
could somehow watch Mercury through a
telescope from a distant star, we would see it
rotate one time every 59 days. This is called a
“sidereal day” because sidereal means “star,”
and we are watching from the stars in this
scenario. On the other hand, if we could
somehow watch Mercury from the position
of the sun, Mercury would appear to turn
once every 176 days. This is called a “solar
ry. Thankfully, you have landed on the night
side (barely), and your spacesuit protects you
from the bitter cold surface. But it won’t protect you from the 800-degree daytime temperatures that are about to occur when the
sun rises in just a couple of hours! Thanks
to Mercury’s very long day, you could begin
jogging west at a leisurely pace of two miles
per hour. As long as you can maintain that
pace, you could stay ahead of the sunrise and
remain safely in the night for as long as it
takes for the rescue ship to arrive. Effectively,
you would be jogging in the opposite direction that the planet rotates, and at about the
same rate, thereby permanently remaining
in the safe shadow of night.
Dr. Humphreys had also predicted that Mercury’s
magnetic field will show measurable decay since
the 1974 measurements. And this was confirmed by
the 2008-2013 Messenger spacecraft.
day.” The reason for the difference is that
Mercury orbits the sun as it rotates.1 This is
also true of the other planets, though the difference is generally much less.2
Mercury’s slow rotation results in
some other interesting effects. A given spot
on Mercury is in direct sunlight for about 88
continuous Earth days at a time. And since
Mercury is three times closer to the sun than
Earth is, and since there is no substantial atmosphere to transport the heat, the surface
temperature on the day side of Mercury can
reach 800 degrees Fahrenheit—more than
hot enough to melt lead. Perhaps even more
surprising is that the temperature on the
night side of Mercury can drop to -280 degrees Fahrenheit! This is because it is in continual darkness for up to 88 days and there
is no significant atmosphere to prevent the
nighttime surface from radiating virtually all
its heat into space.
These extremes lead to some interesting hypothetical scenarios. Suppose your
spaceship ran out of fuel, but not before you
were able to land near the equator of Mercu-
Mercury’s Strange Orbit
Another curious aspect of Mercury’s
rotational (sidereal) period is that it is precisely two thirds of its orbital period. So Mercury turns on its axis three times every time
it orbits the sun twice. In astronomy, whenever the ratio of two periods can be expressed
by a simple fraction, it is called a “resonance.”
Mercury is the only planet in our solar system whose rotation period and orbital period are in resonance. There is a reason for
this, and it involves Mercury’s orbit.
Mercury has the most eccentric orbit
of any planet—meaning that its orbit is noticeably elliptical and not as circular as the
other planets. From Kepler’s Second Law
(see “The Solar System” article),3 a planet in
an elliptical orbit moves faster when closer
to the sun than it does when farther away.
The point of closest approach is called perihelion, and this is when Mercury moves the
fastest. The most distant point is aphelion,
and this is where it orbits the slowest. But
Mercury’s rotation rate does not change. Interestingly, when Mercury is near perihelion,
its rotation rate essentially matches its revolution rate, such that it keeps the same side
pointed at the sun for several weeks.4 This
configuration is very gravitationally stable.5
It would be strange to watch this
phenomenon from the surface of Mercury
itself—if we could somehow survive there.
Imagine we begin by watching a very slow
sunrise. It takes almost 20 hours between the
first moment when the top of the sun peeks
over the horizon and the time when the entire sun is visible. The sun seems enormous
from Mercury’s perspective—appearing two
and a half times larger in the sky than it does
on Earth and over six times brighter! The
sky remains black even when the sun is up,
since Mercury lacks the comfort of Earth’s
thick atmosphere. The sun then gradually
climbs higher in the sky over the next several
weeks. The stars also rise in the east, seeming to move at about twice the speed of the
sun. But as Mercury approaches perihelion,
the sun seems to gradually slow its upward
path, while the stars continue to rise and set
at their usual pace. The sun is now noticeably larger than we witnessed at sunrise and
over three times larger than it appears from
Earth—and ten times brighter! Then the
sun gradually comes to a complete stop and
begins to travel slowly backward just slightly
for about a week. We might feel like Hezekiah (Isaiah 38:8)!6 It then slows to a stop once
again and reverses direction once more. The
sun then gradually resumes its forward path,
shrinking and fading a bit as Mercury moves
toward perihelion. The sun eventually sets in
the west, roughly three months after sunrise.
Observing Mercury
Since it is so close to the sun, Mercury
appears quite bright in our nighttime sky,
rivaling the brightest stars. Yet most people
have never seen it. The planet can be a challenge to locate because it orbits so close to
the sun and is easily lost in the glare. Most
other planets can be seen late at night, when
the sky is quite dark. But not Mercury—it
is only visible at twilight and only at certain
times of the year when it is in a part of its
AUGUST 2013
|
ACTS
&
FACTS
11
I M PA C T
orbit that appears (in angle) most distant
from the sun. This position is called “greatest elongation.” At such times, it is possible
to see Mercury just after sunset for “eastern
elongations” or just before sunrise for “western elongations.”7
Thanks to Mercury’s short period,
greatest elongations happen six (sometimes
seven) times a year. Our next chance to see
Mercury will be on October 9, 2013, or a few
days before or after this. Go outside 20 to 30
minutes or so after sunset and look low to
the west, just above the horizon. Venus will
also be visible and bright and much higher
in the sky. Look between Venus and the
point where the sun sets and you will see the
much-fainter Mercury.
that our solar system is billions of years old,
because a small planet like Mercury should
not be able to maintain a magnetic field for
so long. But this doesn’t surprise creationists.
Physicist D. Russell Humphreys,
Ph.D., has an interesting biblically based
model that is able to account for the current
strength of planetary magnetic fields based
on their true age of about 6,000 years.8 His
model lines up quite well with the current
measured field strengths of the planets. Dr.
Humphreys had also predicted that Mercury’s magnetic field will show measurable decay since the 1974 measurements. And this
was confirmed by the more recent (20082013) Messenger spacecraft.9
Mercury has also been used to confirm other aspects of science. Theoretical
physicist Albert Einstein’s general theory of
relativity indicates that gravitational fields
affect the measurement of space and time.
One such prediction of relativity is that Mercury’s perihelion should “precess” at a different rate than classical physics would predict.
“Precess” means that the ellipse of Mercury’s
orbit slowly rotates such that the angular
Most other rocky worlds in our solar system have
tectonic, atmospheric, and volcanic activity that
can remove evidence of any previous craters. But
not Mercury. Its pristine surface may be a window
into the original conditions of our solar system.
Mercury Confirms Creation
Since Mercury is so close to the sun,
and only visible low in the sky after sunset
or before sunrise, Earth-based telescopic
views of Mercury tend to be rather unimpressive and unrevealing. That all changed
when NASA sent the Mariner 10 spacecraft
to visit Mercury in 1974. During several flyby
encounters, Mariner 10 was able to image
much of the day side of Mercury in unprecedented detail. It also measured a substantial
magnetic field for this tiny planet. This is
disturbing news for secularists who believe
12
ACTS
&
FACTS
|
AUGUST 2013
location of the perihelion (and aphelion)
gradually changes.10 Observations have confirmed Einstein’s prediction, bolstering our
confidence in general relativity.
Creationists have long debated when
and how the craters we find in our solar system actually happened. Were the planets created with craters? Did God use some process
to make the planets on Day Four such that
the craters are the last material He brought
to impact the surface? Did they happen after the curse or during the Flood year? And
if so, why? Mercury may also hold the key
to theories of cratering. Most other rocky
worlds in our solar system have tectonic,
atmospheric, and volcanic activity that can
remove evidence of any previous craters.
But not Mercury. Its pristine surface may
be a window into the original conditions of
our solar system.11 What other secrets can
we discern from this fascinating little world?
Time will tell.
References
1. To make this easier to understand, suppose that Mercury’s
rotation and revolution periods were both exactly the
same: 88 days. In this case, a person watching from a distant star would see Mercury rotate once in 88 days. But the
sun would never see the other side of Mercury because the
planet would keep its same “face” pointed toward the sun as
it revolves around the sun. Likewise, a person standing on
Mercury’s surface would never see a sunrise or sunset, if this
were the case. The sidereal day would be 88 days, and the
solar day would essentially be infinity.
2. Since other planets also orbit the sun, their solar days are
also different than their sidereal day. But the difference
tends to be much smaller than with Mercury. Earth has only
a four-minute difference between its solar and sidereal days.
The reason Mercury exhibits such an enormous difference
is because the length of its sidereal day is comparable to the
length of its year.
3. Lisle, J. P. 2013. The Solar System. Acts & Facts. 42 (6): 10-12.
4. At the time of perihelion, the orbital angular speed actually
slightly exceeds the rotation angular speed for about one
week. An observer on the surface would see the sun apparently move slightly backward in the sky for that one week.
5. Some orbital resonances are stable and self-correcting, such
as Mercury’s. Others are unstable, such that an orbiting
body will be continually perturbed until it is ejected into
a different orbit altogether. This appears to be the reason
why there is a deficit of asteroids having simple resonances
with Jupiter’s orbit. These resonance orbits are known as
the Kirkwood gaps.
6. Critics sometimes declare that God cannot do certain
things, such as make the sun go backward as He did for
Hezekiah. Such things are simply not possible, we are told.
Yet this happens every three months on Mercury. It is probably not the same mechanism that God used for Hezekiah.
Nonetheless, it is to the shame of those critics who attempt
to tell God what He cannot do.
7. “Eastern” denotes that Mercury is east of the sun. It therefore can be seen in our western sky just after sunset. Conversely, “western” elongations are those in which Mercury
is farthest separated to the west of the sun. At such a time,
Mercury can be viewed in the eastern sky just before sunrise.
8. Humphreys, D. R. 1984. The Creation of Planetary Magnetic
Fields. Creation Research Society Quarterly. 21(3): 140-149.
9. Thomas, B. Mercury’s Fading Magnetic Field Fits Creation
Model. Creation Science Update. Posted on icr.org October
30, 2011, accessed June 1, 2013.
10. The perihelion distance does not change, only its angle.
Imagine Mercury’s orbit lined up with a clock such that
the perihelion is aligned with 12:00 and the aphelion is
aligned with 6:00. As Mercury orbits the sun, the ellipse of
its orbit slowly rotates counterclockwise such that at a later
time perihelion would point to 11:30 and aphelion would
point to 5:30. The precession of Mercury’s orbit is very slow,
amounting to only 575 arc-seconds per century. Of this
rate, 532 arc-seconds per century are due to gravitational
perturbations of the other planets. The remaining 43 arcseconds per century are due to the effects of general relativity. The agreement between the theoretical predictions and
the observations is remarkable.
11. This may also be true of the moon. Yet some creationists believe that the moon was impacted more recently by comets
or a meteor stream in association with the Flood of Genesis
6-8. It is unlikely that Mercury would have been strongly
affected by the Flood due to its great distance. So differences
between Mercury and the moon
may help us understand better
when these events occurred.
Dr. Lisle is Director of Research
at the Institute for Creation Research and received his Ph.D. in
Astrophysics from the University of
Colorado.
BACK TO GENESIS
O
f all the beautiful and aweinspiring mountains in the
Alps, the Matterhorn can elicit
the strongest emotions. From
snow skiing to mountain climbing, or just
sitting and admiring it, none can match its
majesty.
In earlier days, when scientific creation
thinking was new, the Matterhorn became
somewhat of an icon for creationists. The
classic book The Genesis Flood described it
as an “upside down mountain,” with fossils
in the wrong order according to evolutionary
predictions, and thus evidence for the great
Flood of Noah’s day.
Sedimentary rocks near a mountain’s
summit are supposed to be the youngest
(i.e., they contain fossils thought to be more
recently evolved) and should overlie lower
strata that should be older, all things being
equal. Yet on the Matterhorn, the reverse
is true. Rocks dated as Cenozoic (containing fossils thought to be some 40 million
years old) underlie rocks dated as Mesozoic
(thought to be 200 million years old) according to evolutionary uniformitarianism.
If they really were deposited on the Matterhorn in that order, then the whole system
is wrong—it’s literally flipped on its head.
Creationists of the day insisted that the great
Flood was not constrained to deposit things
in an evolutionary order, and the observed
order was only due to the dynamics of Flood
waves.
But The Genesis Flood was written in
1961, before the evidence for plate tectonics began to accumulate. Now, while specific
theories vary widely, no student of Earth history doubts that past world-restructuring
events have taken place. Creationists have
accepted this in the form of catastrophic
plate tectonics or a variety of other models.
This is not a capitulation to evolution, but
a healthy response to new data. It has been
recognized by all serious creationists that the
great Flood, described in such breathtaking
terms in Scripture, must have been nothing
less than a worldwide tectonic episode that
forever altered the entire planet. Everywhere
we go, we should see its results—and we do!
The Flood would have involved mega-volcanoes, super earthquakes, colliding tsunamis,
extensive sheet erosion, and more. The vagaries of the Flood could have produced almost
any geologic feature. Often, evidence for the
dynamic hydraulic processes of the Flood is
misinterpreted as evidence for great ages of
slow and gradual processes.
Following Flood deposition of vast
layers of sedimentary rock, the Alps were
formed as Africa collided with Europe, rumpling the flat sediments into massive moun-
J oh n
P
The
Upside-Down
Mountain
D .
M o r r is ,
h
tains. The sediments on the Matterhorn
were still soft at the time of deformation, for
they are tightly folded. It doesn’t take a long
time for sediments to harden, given proper
conditions. Those on the Matterhorn appear
folded close together, not like hard rock that
readily breaks when bent. The time between
deposition and folding was perhaps just the
months of violent tectonic activity during
the Flood, not millions of years. Local high
areas might have slid downward, resulting in
a seeming reversed order. The Ice Age that
followed the Flood covered much of Europe
with moving glaciers that scoured the uplifted, and by then hardened, rocks into the
majestic mountains we admire today.
Remember, there is nothing about the
sediments or their fossil content that speaks
of millions of years of age. These are imposed
strictly by the assumption of evolution. The
application of a biblically compatible history
to the rocks results in better scientific understanding and more satisfying personal implications as well.
“Before the mountains were brought
forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and
the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You
are God” (Psalm 90:2).
Dr. Morris is President of the Institute for Creation Research.
. D .
AUGUST 2013
|
ACTS
&
FACTS
13
BACK TO GENESIS
How Does a Dog Smell Fossils?
G
T H O M A S ,
ary Jackson and
his dog, Migaloo,
trained to sniff out
buried remains,
work with local Australians to
uncover archaeological sites and
help police locate the remains
of murder victims. According
to The Sydney Morning Herald,
“Migaloo quickly located the
600-year-old remains of an indigenous Australian,” which researchers found a decade ago.1
But her specialized training
resulted in an unforeseen crossover—Migaloo can also smell
fossils.
A dog should not be able to
smell fossils if the standard fossil formation story is true. This
scenario assumes trickling minerals slowly replaced long-dead bones
over millions of years. This process supposedly replaced all original
bone material, essentially forming rocks that preserve only the bone
shapes. If true, then the bones should no longer smell any different
than the surrounding rock.
Animal remains buried for several dozen or maybe even several
thousand years might retain some of their original organic components. But that would require special conditions, like rapid burial followed by quick drying, to protect the remains from hungry microbes.
Since all rocks are porous, no underground encasing could indefinitely protect remains from chemical reactions.2 If the original material was not replaced by minerals, then it would have decayed and
disappeared long before a million years elapsed—especially under a
warm Australian climate.
Apparently, nobody explained these complicated fossilization
issues to Migaloo and her sensitive sniffer. The black Labrador-bull
mastiff identified megafauna bone remains tagged at 2.6 to 5.3 million years old.3 How did she do it?
University of Queensland paleontologist Steve Salisbury told
The Herald, “It seems very feasible to me that there would still be
odour attached to a corpse but fossil bone is another thing. We’re
talking millions of years old, where the original bone and internal
structure has been re-mineralised and essentially become a rock.
That’s why I question whether she can smell the difference.”1
Why does Salisbury prefer the undemonstrated age assignment
14
ACTS
&
FACTS
|
AUGUST 2013
M . S .
over Migaloo’s demonstrated
ability to smell fossils? The dog
did smell something different,
showing that underground processes never did re-mineralize
those fossil bones—at least not
entirely. And if they still retain
original organics, then they
are not millions of years old.
Shouldn’t a scientist follow the
observable evidence instead of
blindly believing in millions of
years?
After all, paleontologists
continue to find un-mineralized
fossils—fossils that clearly contain original proteins and cells—
designated as tens of millions of
years old from numerous U.S.
states, Brazil, Argentina, Great
Britain, Germany, several Chinese provinces, Italy, and Belgium.
Studies continue to identify animal proteins in deeply buried fossils,
including collagen, elastin, ovalbumin, histone, keratin, osteocalcin,
and even hemoglobin. Time has taken its toll on these long-buried
proteins, but they retain enough of their original integrity for clear
identification.4 The still-intact organic molecules inside these fossils
indicate they are many times younger than tens of millions of years.
So there’s every reason for skepticism over the age range assigned to
the fossils that Migaloo sniffed out.
“I’d like to believe it. If she can find fossilised bone, then that
would make our searches a lot easier. I’m ready to watch and be surprised—that would be really exciting,” Salisbury said.1
Jackson continues to train and test Migaloo’s potential. If she
emerges as a bona fide fossil-smelling dog, she would demonstrate
something much more exciting than easing fossil searches—her nose
would show why original organic materials in fossils should influence a reassessment of secular ages.
news.com.au
B R I A N
References
1. Mann, E. Migaloo the super snout’s on the case. The Sydney Morning Herald. Posted on smh.
com.au April 28, 2013, accessed May 19, 2013.
2. Specifically, bone collagen turns to dust after 700,000 years at 50°F. Its
time-to-dust estimate is less than 15,000 years at 70°F. See Buckley, M.
and M. J. Collins. 2011. Collagen survival and its use for species identification in Holocene-lower Pleistocene bone fragments from British
archaeological and paleontological sites. Antiqua. 1 (1): e1.
3. “Megafauna” means “large animal” and often refers to large animal
varieties that existed during and after the Ice Age but have since gone
extinct, like the giant moa bird that once alive in Australia.
4. Many of these finds are described at www.icr.org/fresh-fossils.
Mr. Thomas is Science Writer at the Institute for Creation Research.
BACK TO GENESIS
Hot Mantle Initiated Ocean
and Flood Beginnings
T I M O T H Y
C L A R E Y,
P
h
. D .
A
new discovery may shed light on
how the great Flood began. In a
paper published in Nature Geoscience, German scientists found
evidence suggesting the earth’s mantle was
up to 300 degrees Fahrenheit hotter during
the initial, formative stages of the Atlantic
Ocean—when the continents began to violently pull apart to create it—compared to
today.1 Over time, the mantle cooled to current levels.
The scientists studied the composition
of oceanic crust using deep-sea drilling core
samples and found a systematic change in
chemistry from the shoreline—the edge of
the continents—to that of the middle of the
ocean. The shifts in the core sample’s geologic chemistry were linked to changes in the
temperature of the underlying mantle that
generated the oceanic crust.
These findings suggest that the initiation of the great Flood began with an anomalously high-temperature mantle beneath
the pre-Flood continents. As the continents
rifted apart, new ocean crust formed rapidly
between them, and molten mantle filled the
ever-widening gap, supporting the concept
of catastrophic plate tectonics as postulated
by creation scientists.2
Today, new ocean crust forms along
ocean ridges where continental plates continue to slowly pull apart. The ridges, a system of subsea mountains that run through
every ocean, are ridges rather than valleys
because the spreading seafloor is hot and
constantly rises due to its lower density. The
ridge system extends for over 37,000 miles
and accounts for about 75 percent of the
present volcanic activity on Earth.1
The German scientists also noted that
the average ocean ridge today resides at a
depth of 1.8 miles below sea level. In contrast, they calculated that the ridges above
the hotter mantle in the past would have
only been about 0.6 miles below sea level—
well over a mile higher!1
What effect would this have had? Shallower ridges from higher heat flow would
have raised global sea levels, at least partially
accounting for the inundation of the continents during the Flood event. Later, as the
mantle progressively cooled, as confirmed
by this paper, the ocean ridges would have
sunk, dramatically dropping sea level and
draining the water off the continents to end
the Flood.
In a related article summarizing the
recent findings, it was pointed out that
“much of the ancient oceanic crust seems to
have been generated under conditions that
are rare beneath present-day ridges.”3
Rare indeed. The global Flood was a
one-time unimaginable event, never to be
repeated (Genesis 9:15). The high-mantle
heat that apparently initiated the breakup
of the pre-Flood continents only occurred
once in the past. This heat flow also raised
the seafloor ridges and helped flood the
land masses. The subsequent cooling of the
mantle dropped the ridges and provided a
way for the water to drain off the land and
back to the deepening ocean basins. Present-day volcanic activity at the ocean ridges
is minute compared to the catastrophic
formation of oceanic crust during the yearlong Flood. It’s amazing how science again
and again confirms biblical truth.
References
1. Brandl, P. A., et al. 2013. High mantle temperatures following rifting caused by continental insulation. Nature Geoscience. 6 (5): 391-394.
2. Austin, S. A., et al. 1994. Catastrophic plate tectonics: a
global flood model of Earth history: in Proceedings of the
Third International Conference on Creationism. R. E. Walsh,
ed., Pittsburg, PA. Creation Science Fellowship, Inc., p.
609-621.
3. Langmuir, C. 2013. Older and hotter. Nature Geoscience. 6
(5): 332-333.
Dr. Clarey is a Research Associate at the Institute for Creation Research and received his Ph.D. from the University of
Western Michigan.
AUGUST 2013
|
ACTS
&
FACTS
15
Dinosaurs, Stars, and Special
Creation at Gateway Church
D
inosaurs in Texas?
On June 5, 2013, over
2,000 dino lovers visited
Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, to hear Brian Thomas of the
Institute for Creation Research speak
about dinosaurs, the first in a three-part
series of creation talks from ICR experts.
An estimated 1,000 online viewers also
took part in this powerful learning experience.
Several large dinosaur-fossil replicas,
provided by Creation Truth Foundation,
greeted the attendees in the lobby before the
lecture. Fossil replicas also adorned the stage,
prompting one of the performers during the
worship session to say, “There are dinosaurs
M ichael
H a n se n
on stage. That’s just a reminder—God is
COOL!”
After a warm welcome from the audience, Mr. Thomas delivered a powerful and
dynamic talk on dinosaurs and the Bible.
From fascinating historical and scientific
facts to wacky dinosaur waddles, he captivated the audience with his expert knowledge on the mysterious creatures. He talked
about how dinosaurs were not merely the
stuff of human imagination, but creatures
made by an all-powerful God. Mr. Thomas
also presented five clues that confirm the
Bible is right about dinosaurs, starting with
Genesis 1.
After the talk, one attendee told ICR
staff members that she had big questions
about dinosaurs when she was younger. But
her third-grade teacher told her never to ask
questions about them again, and she walked
away without any answers. At the Gateway
event, however, she said Mr. Thomas answered the questions she had asked and she
felt as if a heavy burden was lifted off her
shoulders.
Continuing the series of creation talks
the following week, astronomer and ICR Director of Research Dr. Jason Lisle wowed the
audience with a stunning presentation on
astronomy. He addressed the glory of God,
basic facts about the universe and its age, the
uniqueness of Earth, and the alleged starlight
and time problem. The Bible is correct when
it addresses each of these areas, he told the at-
Dr. Randy Guliuzza
16
ACTS
&
FACTS
|
AUGUST 2013
tendees. And while the Bible isn’t specifically
a manual on understanding outer space, it
addresses the subject of astronomy where
it is absolutely accurate. And although we
cannot know for certain whether or not the
universe is truly infinite, we can be confident
that our God is omniscient and omnipotent.
ICR National Representative Dr. Randy Guliuzza, a medical doctor and professional engineer, closed out the series on June
19 with a presentation on special creation,
human beings, and the amazing system
of human reproduction. He said that the
Genesis account is correct when it speaks
about God’s creation and design of the human body, marriage, and the mandate to fill
Earth. The male and female bodies were designed for each other, and their complementary systems are so intricate that they reflect
the incredibly complex design power of our
Creator.
Gateway Equip is a midweek disciple-
ship and learning program for members
of Gateway Church. Many different topics
pertaining to spiritual growth are offered in
these multi-week classes, but this is the first
time the topic of creation has been presented to this local body of believers. Much of
what the media and education systems tell
us about dinosaurs, astronomy, and the human body is based on an anti-biblical, antiGod worldview. As a result, many people
have been trained with an evolutionary and
long-age worldview that
contradicts God’s Word.
ICR presentations dispelled these myths.
Mr. Hansen is the Student Community Coordinator for the Institute for Creation Research
Dr. Jason Lisle
Brian Thomas
AUGUST 2013
|
ACTS
&
FACTS
17
APOLOGETICS
Is Biblical
Creation a
Distraction to
Evangelism?
J ames
J .
S .
J oh n so n ,
T
he Institute for Creation Research and other biblical creation ministries are sometimes criticized as distractions
from the ministry of evangelism. The alleged
concern is that the promotion of biblical
creation as taught in Genesis creates controversy by derailing the evangelism process—
distracting people from learning about who
Jesus is and trusting Him as their Savior.
Does teaching biblical creation truth
interfere with a proper presentation of the
Lord Jesus Christ as Savior? Before that
question can be squarely answered, consider the context of the controversy. Dr. John
Morris addressed this issue:
A student once asked, “In your debates,
have you ever known of somebody who
was saved as a result of the debate?”
18
ACTS
&
FACTS
|
AUGUST 2013
J . D . ,
T
h
. D .
My father [Dr. Henry Morris] and Dr.
[Duane] Gish had several hundred debates. One time we ran a request in Acts
& Facts to respond to a survey regarding
the debates. One question was a salvation question. Many people responded,
saying it was a very instrumental point
in their journey to Christ.1
Some would argue Dr. Morris was
alluding to favorable anecdotal evidence—
that he offered no realistic allowance for
the individuals who were “turned off” from
seeking God because they were alienated by
creation-versus-evolution polemics. Others
might fault his report as being too vague.
They might say he failed to provide any
meaningful qualification regarding how to
teach creation. They may question whether
teaching about creation “in the beginning”
helps or hurts a seeker’s journey, his ability
to learn about God, and his willingness to
come into God’s eternal sheepfold through
His only begotten Son.
Clarification about who our Creator
God is helps us appreciate Jesus and how
He can rescue human souls as the uniquely
all-sufficient kinsman-redeemer of Adam’s
fallen race.
What about the value of rescuing one
sheep?
Certainly for the one lost sheep who
comes to the Good Shepherd, statistics are
irrelevant (John 10:1-16; Luke 15:3-7). That
truth fits one classroom example, which
began with a Christian student’s desire to
show a biblical creation movie in the main
“People need to know Jesus Christ as offended
Creator before they can believe with understanding on Him as sin-bearing Savior and Redeemer.”
auditorium of a North Carolina state university’s law school. 2 The university granted
permission to show the movie on campus,
but the student was inept at using the media
equipment provided. Providentially, his best
friend and study partner was mechanically
adept, and he agreed to run the film projector for the event. Ironically, the technically
talented friend was a doubter—unconvinced that the Christian faith was truly reliable. The creation movie was packed with
scientific information and analysis, proving
how purposefully living creatures and their
indispensably necessary submicroscopic
components—such as DNA and RNA—are
designed and constructed and how they operate.
In the movie, the creation scientist
Dr. A. E. Wilder-Smith explained the material and informational importance of chiral
molecules (e.g., the left-handed amino acids needed to build the hardware of life) as
well as the mind-boggling complexity and
details of human chromosomes.3 A moderated and emotionally spirited discussion
followed the showing, with audience viewpoints voiced by both evolutionists and creationists, several of whom were faithful ICR
supporters.
But, at the end of the evening, the creation movie’s message was not truly over because the helpful student who ran the projector began thinking about how all of his
scientific doubts and excuses were resolved.
That conclusion was more than academic—
it had logical implications, including some
big questions such as: What do I do with
the Creator who has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that He is God—the Creator
whom Dr. Wilder-Smith declared “became
my Redeemer” in the Person of Jesus Christ?
After a time of wrestling with pride and
receiving more encouragement to believe in
Christ, the mechanically gifted student be-
came a thoroughly convinced believer in the
Lord Jesus. The creation apologetics movie
was helpful in eliminating excuses that were
once barriers to saving faith for that former
skeptic—through viewing the movie, he was
guided toward becoming a fully persuaded
sheep.
Does teaching creation help or hinder
evangelism?
Individual experiences may be exceptional cases.4 So the question remains: Does
teaching biblical creation with an emphasis
on “in the beginning” routinely help gospel
evangelism?
Yes—teaching about how God created in the beginning helps us introduce
the saving gospel of Christ. In fact, objective evidences in the Bible demonstrate that
biblical creation truth is one of the underlying theological foundations for evangelizing unbelievers. For example, consider the
role model of Paul’s apostolic ministry. Paul
began evangelizing Gentiles with an introductory declaration of God as the Creator
(Acts 14:15-17; 17:19-34). But there is even a
stronger proof of this point in the introduction of John’s gospel, the only book of the
Bible that is explicitly written for an evangelistic purpose:
In the beginning. It is significant that
the Apostle John began his gospel with
the words: “In the beginning.” He obviously intended that his record should
start with the same words as Genesis,
that is, with creation. Since his explicit
purpose in writing was to win his readers to Christ as Son of God and Savior
(see John 20:30-31), he realized the
foundational importance of prior belief in special creation of all things by
God. People need to know Jesus Christ
as offended Creator before they can
believe with understanding on Him as
sin-bearing Savior and Redeemer. A
foundation of true creationism as the
only meaningful context for true evangelism is thus revealed through John,
under divine inspiration.5
John did not “distract” his readers
by beginning with creation (John 1:1-3;
1:10-12). Rather, his gospel authoritatively
presents the evangelistic gospel message by
introducing Jesus as the incarnate Creator
God apart from whom nothing was made
that was made (John 1:3; see also John
20:30-31). Therefore, biblical creation truth
is the proper theological foundation for
evangelism—for explaining how Christ became our Messianic Savior whom we should
believe in.
God chose to first introduce Himself
to us as our Creator—that same Creator
God who, as Dr. Wilder-Smith gratefully
acknowledged, “became my Redeemer”
(Genesis 1:1; John 1:1).2 And that is how we
should introduce Him to others. When was
the last time you showed or gave away a creation movie such as God of Wonders?6 This
can be a very nonthreatening way to witness.
DVDs like this help us appreciate the glory
of our Creator, and they can help us evangelize lost sheep who need to be brought into
the fold.
References
1. Morris, J. D. The Genesis Flood, Lesson 2, page 30. A transcribed lecture from the Institute of Creation Research’s
School of Biblical Apologetics (SOBA). To learn more about
ICR’s SOBA (which offers degree programs for M.C.Ed.,
B.C.Ed., and A.C.Ed.), visit icr.edu/soba.
2. The law school illustration alludes to the use of a biblical
creation movie that focuses mostly on explaining creation
science rather than providing a gospel presentation. See
Wilder-Smith, A. E. 1983. Origins: How the World Came
to Be. Origins video series, volume 3. Mesa, AZ: Films for
Christ. The movie’s content matches much of what appears
in A. E. Wilder-Smith’s book The Natural Sciences Know
Nothing of Evolution (Costa Mesa, CA: The Word for Today
Publishers, 1981; translated from the original German by
Petra Wilder-Smith).
3. The creation science movie featured Dr. A. E. Wilder-Smith,
a European young-earth creationist inventor who earned
three doctorates in the overlapping sciences of biology,
chemistry, and pharmacology. See Wilder-Smith, A. E. and
B. Wilder-Smith. 1998. Fulfilled Journey: The Wilder-Smith
Memoirs. Costa Mesa, CA: The Word for Today Publishers.
4. Exceptional results may illustrate God producing good
results from not-so-good circumstances, or even from human misbehavior (Genesis 50:20; Numbers 22-24).
5. See the editorial footnote by Henry M. Morris for John
1:1 in Morris, H. M. 2006. The New Defender’s Study Bible.
Nashville, TN: World Publishing,
1563.
6. God of Wonders DVD, available
through the ICR online store (icr.
org/store).
Dr. Johnson is Associate Professor
of Apologetics and Chief Academic
Officer at the Institute for Creation
Research.
AUGUST 2013
|
ACTS
&
FACTS
19
C R E AT I O N Q & A
Could We Clone
a Dinosaur?
B R I A N
T H O M A S ,
M . S .
In short, no way. But Christians should understand the biblical and biological reasons why not.
Then we can have a meaningful conversation
with friends and family, made more relevant by
the theatrical re-releases of 3-D versions of the Jurassic Park films that
imagine cloned dinosaurs.
Evolutionists also answer “no” to this question, but for a somewhat misguided reason. Christians should understand this, too. An
online LiveScience article listed seven ways that dinosaur science has
changed in the 20 years since Jurassic Park was first released, and the
seventh item on the list argued that cloning dinosaurs would not be
possible because their DNA would have completely degraded after
millions of years.1 It referenced a recently published DNA-in-bone
decay rate.2 The senior author of that study—and head of Murdoch
University’s ancient DNA research laboratory—Mike Bunce emailed
LiveScience, “Even under the best scenarios, in 6-7 million years [the
DNA would be gone.]”
So, if someone found dinosaur DNA, it would require that the
fossil be younger than 6-7 million years. Indeed, one paleontologist
recently reported finding Tyrannosaurus rex DNA and nuclear proteins, albeit using hushed and guarded wording, showing that dinosaur fossils are not nearly as old as secular scientists often claim.3 Does
real dinosaur DNA now mean we can clone a T. rex? The answer is
still no, because DNA decays so fast at Earth-surface temperatures
that DNA in bone would still degrade too quickly to use for cloning
after just several thousand years.
But none of this addresses the main reason why cloning a dinosaur remains outrageously unlikely. It relates to the seldom discussed
Law of Biogenesis: Life always comes from life. One could also describe how, so far as we know, life always comes from the same basic
kind of life. In practical language, a finch has never hatched from an
iguana egg, or vice versa.
Modern whole-animal cloning reflects this within-kind life
principle by using like-kind mothers. In 1997, Scottish scientists
cloned the famous short-lived sheep named Dolly by replacing sheep
egg cell DNA with adult sheep skin cell DNA, then chemically coaxing
the egg to begin development. Researchers then used in vitro fertilization to implant the tinkered egg into a sheep womb. Similarly, other
scientists have so far cloned goats, calves, mice, pigs, and a few other
animals using cells and wombs from within their basic kind.4
20
ACTS
&
FACTS
|
AUGUST 2013
It takes a whole creature (i.e., a mother) to produce another
generation of that creature. One cannot make a dinosaur with mere
dinosaur DNA any more than one can make an apartment complex
with its mere blueprints. The mother’s body provides an array of
technically precise biological essentials, including various hormone
levels, and pH, nitrate, CO2, and temperature balancers. So, even if we
somehow had access to high fidelity T. rex DNA, we could not clone a
whole dinosaur without a real, living female T. rex, complete with her
ability to properly produce eggs.
However, cloning a mammoth might be possible. Finding quality mammoth DNA presents the first major hurdle. Siberian scientists
working on a remote arctic island recently found a thawing female
mammoth carcass with flowing red blood that might harbor useful
genetic material. But any hint of hope for success lies in a mammoth’s
living relative—a female elephant—likely one of its kind.
Scientists with the determination to attempt cloning a mammoth deserve admiration. Meanwhile, unless we find a still-living
female dinosaur, “Jurassic Park will remain a fantasy.”5
References
1. Dhar, M. T. Rex at 20: How ‘Jurassic Park’ Science Has Evolved. LiveScience. Posted on livescience.com June 10, 2013, accessed June 11, 2013.
2. Allentoft, M. E. et al. 2012. The half-life of DNA in bone: measuring decay kinetics in 158 dated
fossils. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 279 (1748): 4724-433.
3. Schweitzer, M. H. et al. 2012. Molecular analyses of dinosaur osteocytes support the presence of endogenous molecules. Bone. 52 (1):
414-423.
4. For example, see: Thomas, B. Extinct Ibex Clone Dies at Birth. Creation Science Update. Posted on icr.org February 13, 2009, accessed
June 11, 2013.
5. Criswell, D. 2006. How Soon Will Jurassic Park Open? Acts & Facts. 35 (6).
Mr. Thomas is Science Writer at the Institute for Creation Research.
STEWARDSHIP
P rayerfully
Consider
Supporting
ICR
(G alatians 6: 9 - 1 0 )
Letters from Abroad
H e n r y
O
nly a handful of creation
science ministries were in
existence when the Institute
for Creation Research began
in 1970. Today there are numerous organizations—at least one in nearly every U.S.
state, and dozens more in countries around
the world. The global expansion of the creationist message is particularly remarkable,
a fact recently impressed upon me by many
encouraging letters from believers overseas.
Take, for instance, this sweet note
from a long-time supporter from Australia:
“Thank you for the many years of sending
the monthly Acts & Facts. Such top notch materials you have published…what a marvelous Creator God we serve! Thank you ICR…
you are helping many to see Him better!”
From a missionary in Germany: “My
high regard for ICR was recently reaffirmed
when I received your personal, handwritten
note. Thank you too for the unexpected gift
of Six Days of Creation! Your publications
are wonderful, especially Acts & Facts, and
are always heavily used within our homeschool community. Continue the good
work!”
An Army chaplain emailed me from
Iraq: “Thank you for the special gift of Days
of Praise…I received a box today for the 300
troops I serve! I myself have received Days
of Praise for many years, and I love them—
they are a great blessing to me. These little
devotionals are so versatile and easy to use,
and packed with the power of God. They
will help us reach and teach the soldiers in
Christ’s name.”
Via email from Malaysia: “Thank you
M .
M o r r is
I V
for your letter…in reply to my contribution
to the work of ICR. I am delighted to be of
some small help. I praise God for His goodness to us, and especially for the work started
by your dear grandfather, Dr. Henry Morris,
and continued on through the ICR ministry. Keep boldly declaring the deity and sovereignty of our Creator and Redeemer Jesus
Christ….You are a great blessing to us!”
From England, the land where modern evolutionary thought began: “ICR is
brilliant...one of the best ministries for
Christ’s kingdom I have ever encountered! I
used to be a chap who thought, ‘Why could
not God have used evolution to create all
things?’ I now realize how ignorant I was,
uneducated in God’s profound truth and
blinded by Satan’s deception. I now feel…
equipped and ready to answer a world that
believes…[in] a Godless existence. Thank
you! Thank you too for the Morris brothers for walking in their father’s footsteps to
maintain this Godly ministry. We pray God
continues to bless your work. Cheers!”
And from Russia: “The ICR That’s a
Fact shows are very wonderful! A friend help
me find them…when I search for videos to
learn my English. We are Christian here and
go to home church. We use the scientific
data…is simple to understand and so easy
point to God and the Bible, not evolution.
Thank…you for your work! I hope to meet
the ICR people one day, if not here, then in
heaven with King Jesus.”
And finally, I received this marvelous
report from a fellow creation warrior (and
tsunami survivor) in Sendai, Japan: “…just
a word of thanks to accompany the…small
Through
n Online Donations
n IRAs, Stocks, and Securities
n Matching Gift Programs
n CFC (federal/military workers)
n Gift Planning
• Charitable Gift Annuities
• Wills
• Trusts
Visit icr.org/give and explore
how you can support the vital
work of ICR ministries. Or contact us at [email protected]
or 800.337.0375 for personal
assistance.
ICR is a recognized 501(c )(3)
nonprofit ministry, and all gifts
are tax-deductible to the fullest
extent allowed by law.
donation I just sent via the Internet. It was
with sadness I learned…of the passing of
Dr. Gish. He came to speak here [and]…
through his ministry…my interest in the
debate was reawakened. Since then I have
been actively involved in the small but influential creation movement in Japan…[and] I
am very thankful to report that [it] is having
an impact on the general Christian population. …I wanted to express my thanksgiving
at least once to ICR for her ministry to me
these decades.”
The seed has been sown in the field
of the world, and these letters testify that
God has truly used ICR in reaching “the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). This is,
indeed, “the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in
our eyes” (Psalm 118:23). It is my hope that
many fellow believers will be encouraged by
this, and will join ICR in prayer and financial support to see an even
greater harvest in the years
ahead.
Mr. Morris is Director of Donor Relations at the Insti­tute for Creation
Research.
AUGUST 2013
|
ACTS
&
FACTS
21
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
I received your book, The
Six Days of Creation. It
was a gift sent from the
wonderful ICR staff. As
I continue to read it, my
heart is being blessed
beyond measure.
My husband of over 36 years recently went
home to be with the Lord. Every day he
would read Days of Praise. My Jim loved that
little booklet, and it brought him a great deal
of comfort. It continues to be a source of
comfort to me, as well.
The Six Days of Creation is the most
exciting work I have read in some time.
Jim would have loved reading it with me,
but I know Heaven far surpasses anything
that this world has to offer. I can, however,
share this amazing book with my children,
grandchildren, friends and the pastors at our
church.
I can’t tell you how thankful I am to have
such an awesome tool to share….Thank
you for sharing your knowledge with all of
us who will have the honor of reading your
excellent work.
— C.B.
A note from the owner of Migaloo, the fossilsniffing dog from Australia (see page 14.)
I just read the [Creation Science Update]
article [Can This Dog Sniff Out Fossils?]
from Brian Thomas and what a fantastic
article on Migaloo. I have
not got all the answers on
what Migaloo is actually
smelling but I do report
the results. As this is all
new we don’t know the
full potential, but I am
excited at conducting the tests. I do know
that a fossil has an odour that a dog can
detect, I don’t know if they can detect fossils
buried deep underground. In the one and
only fossil search Migaloo located around 12
fossils on the surface of the ground, 2 of the
finds were collected 6 months earlier and put
22
ACTS
&
FACTS
|
AUGUST 2013
in 2 piles and the others were on the surface
and untouched. Migaloo was able to clearly
indicate [the] fossils and ignore all the rocks,
wood, stones etc.
Great news as I have an opportunity to
search with Migaloo a known mega-fauna
area this week with a local fossil expert.
They removed some fossils here 20 years
ago and there is nothing left on the surface
so this is a great opportunity to conduct a
second test. I am also keen to organise some
official testing soon so we can all know the
limitations of the dog.
God Bless,
— G.J.
I first heard Dr. [Duane]
Gish speak at UCSD around
1972. My biology major
Christian friends were so
appreciative of him because
they too felt attacked by their profs. Having
been raised a Christian, I’ve really never had
any trouble accepting 6-day creation approx.
6,000 years ago. But I was very happy for the
beginnings of ICR back then.
It was quite a few years later
that I became reacquainted
with ICR when Steve Austin
spoke at a hotel close to
Christian Liberty Academy
in Arlington Heights, IL, sometime in the
’80s. It was a good impression on my kids,
at the time. I think that’s when I got on the
mailing list. I have been very impressed with
the faithfulness of Dr. Gish and Dr. [Henry]
Morris. I hope they are enjoying their rewards.
— J.C.
Thank you for all your ministry blessings.
We watched your ministry grow into a global
movement and new wonderful teachers
along the way. We…enjoy Acts & Facts and
Days of Praise so much. Because of what you
mean to my husband and I, and we believe
so much in your ministry, I’m sending you a
gift. Love in Christ.
— B.M.
I was wondering if there
will be more books by
your researchers that
will be available on
Kindle. My reason
is a personal one,
but I also know
lots of people that
use Kindle and it’s
becoming increasingly popular. I am very
busy and have very little time to read books
the traditional way. Instead, I have an older
model Kindle that reads books out with
the text-to-speech function. I spend over 2
hours driving to and from work each day
so I have ample opportunity to listen to all
kinds of books on the journey. One book (set) I’m particularly keen to read
is Earth’s Catastrophic Past. I know I don’t
have time to get through such a large volume
as these 2 books unless it is read out loud to
me. So if this book set became available on
Kindle, that’d be great. Thanks for piecing
together long ignored evidence for creation
for the rest of us to read.
Regards,
— J.M.
I liked Dr. Hebert’s article [regarding] the
fact that life could not have started spontaneously due to the laws of chemistry, and I
totally agree. I asked my father, who was a
top organic chemist (and to my knowledge
an evolutionist) whether it could originate
from a mixture of simple elements like Nitrogen, carbon, and hydrogen and oxygen,
and he emphatically said “no” since the only
reactions [that] have a 100% completion
rates are those which produce either gases
(like baking soda combining with vinegar)
or precipitates, and organic reactions rarely
do this! I appreciate his monthly insights!
— L.I.
}
Have a comment?
Email us at [email protected]
Or write to Editor,
P. O. Box 59029, Dallas, Texas 75229
NEW!
“What Hitler attempted to do must be ranked
alongside the most heinous crimes of history,
and Darwin as the father of one of the most
destructive philosophies in history.”
­— Dr. Jerry Bergman
Hitler
and the Nazi Darwinian Worldview
How the Nazi Eugenic Crusade for
a Superior Race Caused the Greatest
Holocaust in World History
Dr. Jerry Bergman
$17.99 plus shipping and handling
To order, call 800.628.7640
or visit www.icr.org/store
“Anyone with an interest in 20th-century history should read Dr. Jerry
Bergman’s excellent book Hitler and the Nazi Darwinian Worldview. The
United States and Europe continue to celebrate the end of World War II with
much justification. That war, instigated by Adolph Hitler’s Nazi Germany,
nearly tore the world apart. Although much has been written about that era,
seldom has any work exposed the evolutionary justification for the rationale
behind the war and the awful impact that continues to dominate the philosophic, academic, and political disciplines of modern society.
The great Enemy has not ceased to corrupt the minds of the world “from
the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3). The harvest the Western
world is now reaping was sown in abundance by Nazi Germany and many
intellectuals of that era. All who are concerned about the efforts of academia
to corrupt the minds of young adults should read this powerful book.”
— Henry M. Morris III, D.Min.
That’s a Fact!
Bringing you all-new episodes
of fascinating facts about
science, the Bible, and more—
in two minutes or less!
Catch the latest at
www.ThatsaFactTV.com
AUGUST 2013
|
ACTS
&
FACTS
23
Summer
Book
Sale!
P. O. Box 59029, Dallas, TX 75229
www.icr.org
Add shipping & handling to
all orders
Visit the ICR store today
at www.icr.org or call
800.628.7640
The Global Flood
Unlocking Earth’s Geologic History
Dr. John D. Morris
BTGF
Hardcover
$16.99 (reg. $19.99)
The Design and Complexity of the Cell
Dr. Jeffrey P. Tomkins
BDCC1
Hardcover
$16.99 (reg. $19.99)
The Fossil Record
Unearthing Nature’s History of Life
Dr. John D. Morris and Frank J. Sherwin
BFORE1
Hardcover
$16.99 (reg. $19.99)
Clearly Seen
Constructing Solid Arguments for Design
Dr. Randy J. Guliuzza
BCS1
$7.99 (reg. $9.99)
The Book of Beginnings
Vol. 1 - Creation, Fall, and the First Age
BTBOB
Vol. 2 - Noah, The Flood, and the New World
BTBOB2
Dr. Henry M. Morris III
$9.99 each (reg. $15.99)
Also available through Kindle, NOOK, and iBookstore.
Made in His Image
Examining the Complexities of the
Human Body
Dr. Randy J. Guliuzza
BMIHI1
$7.99 (reg. $9.99)
Also available through Kindle, NOOK, and iBookstore.